Centrifugal cream-separator.



J. P. HULTGREN.

CENTRIFUGAL CREAM. SBPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED 11u24, 1913.

1,1 01,799. Patented June so, 1914.

.3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. P..HULTGREN.

GENTRIPUGAL CREAM SBPABATOR.

APPLIOATIONYIILED MAY 24, 1913.

' 1,101,799. Patented June'30,1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

`be simple and cheap in construction,

JOHN P. HULTGREN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CENTRIFUGAL CREAM-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 30, 1914.

Application filed May 24, 1913, Serial No. 769,626.

-new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Cream-Separators, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which corresponding numerals of reference in the diiferent tigures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a centrifugal cream separator which shall easily manipulated and, withal, durable and highly eilicient.

To .these ends, my invention consists in novel means for feeding the whole-milk to the bowl and into contact with the interior of a separating member so as to cause a considerable initial separation of the different gravities during` the act of delivery to, and before a general distribution thereof is made upon the surface of said separating member.

Other novel and important features of said invention consist in the form and construction of the separating member or members, whereby, with a minimum number of parts, a maximum distribution for skimming purposes may be made of the iniiowing milk upon its delivery to the interior of the separating, member, after which the centrifugal action may cause the liquid of different gravities to flow upon different areas, thereby dividing them into distinct currents leading toward separate outlets; all of which is hereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out in the claims.`

In the'drawings, Figure 1, is an axial, vertical sectional view of a separating bowl embodying the features of my invention, said section being in the plane of the milk delivery or feed-wings. Fig. 2 is a like view taken in a plane at right angles to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view in plan taken upon the line 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4, is a plan view in detail of the inner separating member. Fig. 5, is a View of the combined base and feed-member. Fig. 6, is a sectional view in plan taken upon the line 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7, is a central vertical section of a bowl showing a modiiied construclwill be explained later.

therefrom,

tion, and Fig. 8, is an elevation of a moditied separating member like that shown in the other views except that the outlet openings are diferently located. A

Referring to the" drawings, l, Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, represents generally the bottom of the bowl, a portion 2," of which is of hollow conoidal shape, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Said part 2, is concentric with the axis of the bowl and integral With an axial feed-tube 3, which is extended upwardly therefrom. A central vertical bore 4, is formed in said member for the reception of a driving spindle, not shown, which may be operatively connected therewith in any well known way. The conduit portion of the feed-tube is preferably extended downwardly to about midway between the top and bottoni of the bowl and is restricted at the top by means of the usual annular flange 5. lings 6, 6, are formed upon and extended radially from the feed-tube'to the wall of the separating member to the bottom of the bowl. Said wings are provided with downwardly inclined conduits 7, 7, from the outer ends of which extension conduits or grooves 8, 8, are led downwardly substantially to the level of the bottom of the bowl, from whence they arecurved4 outwardly as shown at 9, Figs. 1 and 5. Lateral iianges 10, 10, Figs. 3, 5, and 6, are formed upon each of the wings, the special construction and function of which Located within the bowl, so as to surround Ethe feed-tube, is a separating member generally designated by 11, which is formed ffrom sheet-metal and consists of an inverted cup-shaped structure, the peculiar form of 4which constitutes one of the novel features .of the invention anud is of especial importance, inasmuch as it aids materially in sepa- :rating the lighter from the heavier gravitics 'of the liquid and in distributing them in separate currents leading to separate outlets. vSaid member is circular at the base and,

preferably, for a short distance upwardly and is provided with a horizontal flange 12, at the bottom, which is adapted to fit against a circular upturned bead 13, by which it is axially centered and securely held in place. A-ring 14, is formed upon the top of said member so as to t acand vdownwardly curately around the feedtube; a notch 15, Fig. 4. being formed therein for the reception of a spline 16, Figs. 2 and 5, which insures its proper adjustment. Formed in the ring 14, are cream openings 17. The upper portion 18, of said separatin(r member corresponds in the degree of inclination to, and is adapted to fit and rest upon the' wings 6, as shown in Fig. 1. WVliile, as stated, the base or bottom portion of the separating member 11, is circular in cross-section, the upperpartis elliptical; the change of form commencing at a level near the base, as better shown in Fig. 8, from whence it gradually assumes a complete oval. The wings, if there are but two, as `I prefer, are intended to be located in the vertical plane of the long axis of the oval, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and the peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower portions ofv said wings, as shown at 19 and 20, respectively, are formed to fit closely against the inner periphery of the separating member 11` Said wings, or rathei` the flanges 10, thereon, are cut away as shown at 21, Figs. 1, 5 and 6, to form narrow spaces between said flanges and the inner wall of the separa-ting member forthe purpose of causing the full-milk, when delivered, to pass in thin films or laminze therethrough. The separating member 11, is provided with openings 22,'Figs. 2, 3 and et, arranged preferably in a horizontal row at or near the top of the main portion thereof and upon the short axis of the ellipse, for the passage of the partially separated milk to the outer periphery of said member.

Surrounding and inclosing the separating member 11, is a second separating member 23,' which is .spaced therefrom and is, in form and construction, identical therewith except as to size and the location of the outlet openings for the milk, said openings, designated by 24, Figs. l and 2, being formed in a horizontal row around the entire base of said member for the purpose hereinafter stated. The bottom of the member 23, rests upon the circular flange 12, of the member 11, and against the annular flange 13. Cream openings 25, Fig. 2, are formed in a ring at the top of saidimembcr corresponding to the ring 14, which is notched in like manner to receive the spline 16. This adjustment serves to insure the registration of the cream openings 25, with the cream openings 1-7, in the member 11.

A circular' conical hood or cover 2G, is adapted to rest upon ribs or blocks'23, upon the top of the member 23, the latter being in the pla-ne of the long axis of said member. Said hood is provided with the usual neck portion 27, of larger diameter than that of the feed-tube, so as to leave an annular space between them and provide for an inturned annular flange 28, at the top which is fitted upon the feed-tube and serves to skimmiilk outlets 32,

center' said hood. The usual cream-outlet screw 28, is formed in said neck so as to communicate with the annular cream-space upon its inner periphery.

A bowl 29, of well known form, is arranged to incluse the parts described, the bottom portion thereof being fitted within a flange 30, upon the bottom member 1. The upper or conical part of the bowl is Iliade to conform in shape to the hood 26, and is spaced therefrom in a well known way by means of ribs upon the latter. The usual Fig..1, are formed in the neck 33, of the bowl at a level below that of the cream outlet. The several parts described are rigidly secured in place y means of a nut 34, threaded upon the upper end of the feed-tube and arranged to bear against the top of the neck 33, and the flange 28, of the hood.

Having thus fully described the apparatus, I will now explain its operation: The whole-milk, upon being admitted to the feed-tube, is diverted radially through the channels 7, the ends of which are in close proximity to the walls of the separating member 11, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The streams are deflected downwardly by said walls into the grooves 8, which are kept full and under constant pressure from top to bottom, thereby causing the full-milk to be discharged evenly and in thin films through the narrow lateral passage-ways between the inner wall of the separating member 11, and the cut-away portions 21, of the flanges 10, formed upon the wings 6. The milk, which is necessarily under great stress at all times after entering the feedtube, is thus caused to be delivered into the interior of the lower or circular zone of the separating member 11, against the inner periphery, upon the' surface of which it is thoroughly distributed so as to produce an active skimming effect. The passage thereto through the narrow channels or s aces between said separating member an the flanges 10, causes a stress upon the associated partlcles or globules, resulting in an initial separation of the different gravities, and as the body of milk and partially separated cream is delivered into the interior of the separating member 11, it is in a measure transformedand in condition to insure a rapid separation as soon as it is admitted thereto. After being first distributed around the entire periphery of the base or lower portion of said member, it is then caused to rise; and as it is brought into Contact with the beginning of the oval portion, the heavier gravit1es tend toward the longer and the lighter ones toward the shorter axis of said member. The cream being next to the feed-tube, is discharged upwardly through the cream outlets 17, while the milk, with a percentage of unseparated cream, is diS- charged through the apertures 22, and conveyed downwardly between the members 11, and 23, to the base where the heavier gravities are discharged throughthe openings 24,- to the inner periphery of the bowl. In its downward passage a further separation 0r skimming occurs, the cream so separated, passing upwardly to be discharged through the openings 25. After its passage through the openings 24, the skim-milk is caused to pass upwardly upon the inner periphery of therbowl in a well known way and into the space between the conical part of said bowl and the cover 26, to the skim-milk outlets 32. Such further percentage of cream as may be skimmed from the milk after passing the openings 24, is caused to pass upwardly upon the outside of the member 23, and beneath the hood 26, to mingle with the cream passing through the openings 17 and 25, to be `finally discharged through the creamopening 28a.

wWhile I prefer to employ two or more separating members, I have found in practice that goodresults may be accomplished with one. Inl the use of one, however, I would recommend a different disposition of the outlet openings. In Figs. 7 and 8, I have shown such a modification; and, inasmuch as the location of theoutlet openings constitutes the only change, the reference numerals to the other parts have been retained. Outlet openings 35, are formed in the body of said separating member extending in a vertical plane in the short axis of the oval, from the bottom nearly to the in- 'clined portion 18.

Inn the example illustrated, I have shown what, in view of all conditions, I regard as the best form or contour for the separating member; the aim being to so construct the lower portion thereof as to provide a hori zontal circular zone therein concentric with the axis, for causing a uniform and maximum liquid distribution at the inception of the process, and combining therewith another and higher zone having separatingv areas at varying distances from said axis so that the varying gravities of the liquid, according as they are heavy or light, may tend toward one or the other of said4 areas. It follows, therefore, that while the lower Zone should be circular, the upper one need not be elliptical in cross-section, provided that its contour is such as to furnish separating areas at varying distances from the axis; hence, while I prefer the elliptical form, I do not wish to be limited thereto, nor do I intend to limit myself to the relative positions shown of the wings, nor to the number of such wings nor to the number or relative area of the flanges formed thereon, inasmuch as all of these features may be varied without departing from thespirit of the invention.

separating member and in close proximity i Y to the inner wall of said separating member.

2. A separating member for use in a centrifugal cream separator, consisting of a hollow structure having its lower. portion circular and its upper portion elliptical in cross-section, in combination with an axial feed-conduit provided with radial wings having discharge openings in the plane of the long axis of 'the elliptical part of said separating member and in close proximity to the inner wall thereof and means for discharging the milk in a thin film against said wall while directing it under stress in substantial parallelism therewith.

3. A centrifugal cream separator comprising a bowl having an axial whole-milk inlet, cream and skim-milk outlets, a hollow separating member having horizontal zones at different levels, the lowermost being concentric with the axis while that above is provided with separating areas at varying distances fromsaid axis, and means connected with said axial inlet for directing the whole milk for initial distribution, against the inner periphery of said circular zone.

4. A centrifugal cream separator, comprising a bowl having an axial feed conduit,v

cream and skim-milk outlets, a plurality of separating members spaced apart, one within another, the lower portion of said members being circular in cross-sect-ion and the upper portion elliptical, the inner one of said members having openings in the upper portion for the passageof milk outwardly, while that by which it is inclosed is provided with openings in the -lower portion for the outward passage of skim-milk.

5. A centrifugal-cream separator, comprising a bowl having an axial feed conduit, crearr and skim-milk outlets and spaced separating members' between the axis and the inner periphery of the bowl, the base portion of said members being circular and the portion above said base elliptical in crosssection, said members being provided with openings for the passage of milk, one in the upper and the other in the lower portion, said upper openings being in the innermost member.

6. A centrifugal cream separator comprising a bowl having a whole-milk inlet, cream and skim-milk outlets and a separating member divided into horizontal zones of varying cross-sectional form, all parts of the lowermost zone being substantially coneenspecification in the presente of two subscrib trie with the axis, While areas of the other ing witnesses, this 22d deiv of May, 1913.

are disposed at different relative distances T i, Y,...

from said axis, and means for feeding" the JOI-Ih 1' LLULTGREN 5 whole-milk in thin films against the inner Vitnesses:

periphery of said circular zone. DAviD H. FLETCHER.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this LESLIE W. FBICKE. 

